It takes determination and it also takes real courage to be ordinary. – Crispin Thurlow
Sociolinguist Crispin Thurlow presents a compelling argument for embracing mediocrity in a society that constantly pushes us towards superiority.
He explores how language and marketing tactics feed into our status anxiety, leading to a cycle of comparison and discontentment.
Table of Contents
- The Power of Language
- Status Anxiety
- Understanding Mediocrity
- Relentless Language of Superiority
- Illusions of Superiority
- Embrace Mediocrity
The Power of Language
Language can be influential and often slippery.
It’s used to promote notions of superiority and comparison, from ‘elite’ hotel rooms to ‘premium’ products, creating an illusion that superiority is easily obtained.
Status Anxiety
Modern society bombards us with messages about excellence, distinction, and success.
This leads to what philosopher Alain de Botton terms ‘status anxiety’, a worry about not being good enough or always needing to be better than we currently are.
